Airports including Robin Hood Doncaster Airport and Humberside Airport have issued a stark warning that a global deal on aviation emissions (to be discussed at Copenhagen in December) must be achieved. Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Humberside Airport are members of the Airport Operators Association (AOA) and a report commissioned for the Association by leading economists OXERA will be launched in the City tomorrow (3 Nov) by a panel of aviation and business leaders including Peel Airports Group Deputy Chief Executive, Neil Pakey. They will say that UK-only alternative measures would deal a severe blow to passengers and the wider economy.

The latest Department for Transport forecasts show that by 2030, there will be passenger demand in the UK for 434 million flights, an increase of about 3% a year. But if growth in flying were restricted to just 1.5% a year, a measure touted as a UK-only alternative to an international emissions cap, the report estimates that average return air fares could see a 40% rise from £258 to £360, by 2020.

Modelling work in the report shows that raising Air Passenger Duty (APD) is an equally bad alternative to an international cap. Bringing in a 5% a year “APD Escalator” would see a further £30 added to average return air fares by 2020. This would come on top of APD rises just brought in by the government and the further increases it has fixed for next November. Yesterday’s rises see APD on flights to Europe up from £10 to £12, and to the States from £40 to £60.

In addition, under such draconian alternatives to an international deal, aviation’s ability to boost the wider economy could be dealt a severe blow. By 2030 the UK would be up to £30bn a year worse off, lose out on £15bn in contributions to the Exchequer, and support 700,000 fewer jobs.

The study found that the aviation sector represents 1.5% of the UK economy, contributing £18.4bn towards UK GDP and providing jobs for 234,000 people. Aviation’s capacity to create wealth has grown by 8.3%, in real terms, since 1995.

Commenting on the need to address environmental impact, Deputy CEO of Peel Airports Group, Neil Pakey, said: “While the tax burden on aviation more than covers its environmental costs, airports need to continue to work hard with other parts of the aviation sector to realise a global deal on carbon emissions. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which aviation enters in 2012, is a hugely significant first step”.

Commenting on the findings, AOA Chairman, Ed Anderson said:  “Aviation should be part of a low carbon future, and a global sectoral approach is needed at Copenhagen.  Aviation must grow sustainably, within environmental limits, and can be used to improve the performance of the wider economy by stimulating connectivity, trade and investment which in turn creates wealth and, jobs”.

GO IN SEARCH OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS FROM DONCASTER AIRPORT

Passengers at Doncaster Sheffield Airport are preparing to go in search of the magical Northern Lights as they go on a flight with a difference. On March 16 2010, trippers will board a three hour flight with two astronomers, as they search for the Northern Lights, a natural display often seen in the Polar Regions. The plane, which will depart at 2100hrs, will head north, over Aberdeen and the Shetland Isles to a point in the North Atlantic between the UK and Southern Norway.

Passengers will also have an hour long pre-flight briefing from the astronomers, one of which is scheduled to be televisions Pete Lawrence from the BBC ‘Sky at Night’ programme.

“This is a really unusual destination but a very popular one as it makes a very unique gift or Christmas present. Previous flights to the Northern Lights have been booked up well in advance.”

The Northern Lights were beamed into homes across the UK when actress Joanna Lumley undertook an amazing journey for a BBC Documentary to Norway's Far North to pursue a lifelong dream to track down the elusive, stunningly beautiful Northern Lights - 'the true wonder of the world,' as she puts it.

The Northern Lights can vary from a gentle glow to quite dramatic burst of colour across the sky. They illuminate the northern horizon as a greenish glow or sometimes a faint red, as if the sun was rising from an unusual direction.  Subject to flying conditions, the pilot and crew will be briefed to do everything possible to enable passengers to witness the phenomena.